Interconnected strings representing entangled choices.

Are Your Choices Really Yours? Unveiling the Hidden Influences on Decision-Making

Nico Varela in Mind & Education July 2025 • 4 min read.

"Dive into the fascinating world of entangled choices and discover how your decisions might be shaped by more than just your own preferences."

We make countless choices every day, from the mundane to the life-altering. We often assume these decisions are solely our own, driven by our individual preferences and assessments. But what if our choices aren't as independent as we think? What if hidden influences are subtly shaping our decision-making processes, leading us down paths we wouldn't consciously choose?

The concept of 'entangled choices' suggests that our decisions can be intertwined with those of others in unexpected ways. This doesn't necessarily imply direct communication or collusion. Instead, it points to more subtle mechanisms, where our choices are correlated through shared environments, common information, or even unconscious biases. Understanding these influences is crucial for gaining greater control over our lives and making choices that truly reflect our desires.

This article delves into the fascinating world of entangled choices, drawing on recent research to explore how our decisions can be influenced by factors we may not even be aware of. We'll examine the conditions under which choices become entangled, discuss the implications for our autonomy, and offer practical tools for distinguishing between genuine preferences and subtle manipulations.

What Exactly Are Entangled Choices?

Interconnected strings representing entangled choices.

Imagine two friends, Frodo and Sam, facing similar choices but in separate rooms. If their decisions are purely independent, their choices would only correlate based on their individual preferences. However, entangled choices occur when their decisions correlate in ways that cannot be explained by their individual preferences alone. It's as if an invisible thread connects their choices, leading them to act in concert even without direct communication.

This entanglement can arise from a variety of sources. Perhaps Frodo and Sam share a common background or have been exposed to similar information. Maybe they're both influenced by the same social trends or marketing campaigns. Whatever the cause, the result is that their choices become intertwined, deviating from the path they would have taken if acting in complete isolation.

Here are some potential causes of entangled choices:

Shared Information: Exposure to the same news, opinions, or advertisements.
Social Influence: Peer pressure, conformity, or the desire to fit in.
Common Biases: Unconscious prejudices or stereotypes that shape our perceptions.
Algorithmic Manipulation: Personalized recommendations that steer us towards specific choices.

The challenge lies in distinguishing entangled choices from simple correlations based on similar preferences. Just because two people make the same choice doesn't mean their decisions are entangled. It's only when the correlation exceeds what's expected based on their individual preferences that entanglement becomes a possibility.

Reclaiming Your Autonomy in a World of Entangled Choices

The concept of entangled choices may seem unsettling, but it also offers a powerful opportunity for self-improvement. By becoming aware of the hidden influences that shape our decisions, we can take steps to reclaim our autonomy and make choices that truly reflect our authentic selves. This involves cultivating critical thinking skills, seeking out diverse perspectives, and being mindful of the subtle ways our choices can be manipulated. Ultimately, the goal is to become more conscious consumers, more informed citizens, and more self-directed individuals.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.09045,

Title: Entangled Vs. Separable Choice

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Nail Kashaev, Martin Plávala, Victor H. Aguiar

Published: 13-03-2024

Everything You Need To Know

What are 'entangled choices' and how do they differ from independent choices?

Entangled choices describe situations where our decisions correlate with others' in unexpected ways, beyond individual preferences. Unlike independent choices, which are solely based on individual preferences, entangled choices are influenced by shared environments, information, or unconscious biases. For instance, imagine Frodo and Sam, making choices independently. If their choices align beyond what their individual preferences would predict, considering their shared context, this alignment suggests entangled choices are at play. This entanglement can arise from Shared Information, Social Influence, Common Biases, or Algorithmic Manipulation.

What are some key factors that contribute to the formation of 'entangled choices'?

Several factors contribute to entangled choices. These include Shared Information like news or advertisements, which can influence decisions. Social Influence, such as peer pressure, also plays a role. Common Biases, which are unconscious prejudices, and Algorithmic Manipulation through personalized recommendations can steer us towards specific choices. Each of these elements subtly intertwines our decisions with others, creating correlations beyond what is expected from individual preferences. The convergence of these factors underlines how our choices may not be as independent as they seem.

How can 'Shared Information' lead to 'entangled choices'?

Shared Information is a significant driver of entangled choices because it exposes multiple individuals to the same news, opinions, or advertisements. When people are exposed to similar information, it can subtly shape their perceptions, beliefs, and ultimately, their decisions. If Frodo and Sam both read the same persuasive article about a product, their resulting purchasing choices might correlate. This correlation goes beyond their individual preferences and creates an 'entangled' effect. The shared experience of consuming the same information creates a common influence, making their choices less independent and more aligned due to this shared external factor.

Why is it important to be aware of 'entangled choices' and how can we regain our autonomy?

Awareness of entangled choices is crucial because it reveals that our decisions may be influenced by external factors, not solely by our genuine preferences. By understanding how Shared Information, Social Influence, Common Biases, and Algorithmic Manipulation can impact our choices, we can start to distinguish between our true desires and subtle manipulations. Reclaiming autonomy involves cultivating critical thinking skills, seeking diverse perspectives, and being mindful of the hidden influences. The goal is to become more conscious consumers, informed citizens, and self-directed individuals, which allows us to make choices that genuinely reflect our authentic selves.

Can you provide examples of 'Algorithmic Manipulation' and how it contributes to 'entangled choices'?

Algorithmic Manipulation uses personalized recommendations to steer individuals towards specific choices. For example, if Frodo and Sam are both shown the same suggested products or content on their social media feeds based on their browsing history, they might be influenced to make similar decisions. These algorithms don't just reflect preferences; they actively shape them by curating our information diet. This creates entangled choices by influencing multiple individuals in similar ways, driven by the algorithm's recommendations rather than their independent assessments. It highlights how seemingly neutral technology can subtly link our decisions, fostering correlations that might not exist otherwise.